Like Hefner before them, The French became popular with John Peel, and they recorded their first session for him in 2003, as well as having two songs appear in that year’s Festive Fifty. This EP of reimagined childhood television themes was originally put together as an experimental Maida Vale session for Peel. Airing on BBC Radio 1 in July 2004, just a few months before the legendary DJ’s passing, this oddity would become Hayman’s final Peel session.
The French issued just one album (‘Local Information’), which received a five-star review in The Guardian, was called a “Buried Treasure” by Electronic Sound Magazine as well as a “Hidden Gem” by Mojo Magazine, in addition to one of its songs (“The Wu Tang Clan”) finding new life when covered by Allo Darlin’. The album also triggered a lengthy legal issue with the label, Too Pure, and in Hayman's words, “torpedoed” his career, but nonetheless remains one of his favourites of his career.
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